The Chicago Blackhawks defeated the Washington Capitals 6-4 in their first game of the season on Tuesday.
The game was preceded by a red carpet ceremony that eventually led to a Stanley Cup banner raising and the presentation of the Cup to the Chicago Blackhawk faithful.
Shortly after, the defending champions picked up where they left off. Just a little over four minutes into the game, Brandon Bollig scored for Chicago to give the Blackhawks a 1-0 lead. However, reigning Hart Trophy winner Alex Ovechkin tied the game a little under 11 minutes in with a power-play goal past goalie Corey Crawford. But the tie didn't last long. Reigning Conn Smythe winner Patrick Kane answered less than 30 seconds later with a wrist shot of his own that eluded Capitals keeper Braden Holtby and gave Chicago a 2-1 lead at the interval.
Despite the quick scoring, the Capitals would not give up and halfway through the second period, a defensive miscue from Chicago led to a two-on-one for Washington led by Mikhail Grabovski. The summer acquisition fired a shot past Crawford to tie the game. However, Brent Seabrook restored the lead to Chicago with the team's first power-play goal of the season.
Washington would tie the game up on the power-play off a Mike Green blast from the point and would take another lead on a similar play on the man advantage; the latter goal was awarded to Grabovski. However, the Blackhawks would tie the game just under the eight-minute mark off a terrific rush from Brandon Saad and Michael Handzus.
With a little bit over six minutes left in the game, a Johnny Oduya slap shot from the left boards snuck past Holtby to give Chicago a 5-4 lead. Marion Hossa was awarded with an empty net goal in the waning after being tripped on the breakaway toward the vacated net.
Next up for Washington is its home opener against the Calgary Flames. Chicago will host the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday.
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